Our Russian river cruise route

We start in Moscow and sail the Volga river to Lake Onega then the Svir river followed by the Neva river to St. Petersburg. A total of 6 days sailing and a distance of 1127km on the waterways.
Of course we have some time in Moscow before setting sail and time in St. Petersburg at the end.

July 29th: We arrive at Moscow.

We arrive at Moscow International Airport mid afternoon. Passport control was no big deal and easy. I guess they checked us out when we applied for our visa a month or so ago. A nice modern airport and we even seemed to get our luggage fairly quickly. Our pickup was waiting for us and quickly got us on a bus. But there we stayed for an hour and a half, there were more people also on our tour landing an hour after us.

We drove for just over an hour to Moscow canal boat station where our boat was waiting for us. It was a good drive getting to see the outskirts of Moscow. The boat station was about 20km from the centre of Moscow.

 

 

It was a relief to find the boat was really nice, not to big and kept very clean. Great start.
Dinner on board first night and our first opportunity to meet the rest of the group. There turned out to be about 20 of us, all speaking English so it makes life a little easier.

July 30th: Moscow orientation by day and night.

Breakfast then on the bus to Red Square. It is as impressive as the pictures we have seen
At one end is the State Historical Museum.

State historical Museum, Iberian Gate chapel in background.

Then looking to the other end St Basil's Cathedral with the Kremlin walls to the right and the GUM Department store running 240 metres, to the left. At the end of the Kremlin wall is the Spasskaya Tower.

Lenin's Mausoleum

St. Basils Cathedral

Before the crowds grow we wander through the GUM department store. Know as the State Department Store during the Soviet Era and started back in 1893.

A scenic bus ride back to the boat and more sights

 

Tonight we return to Red Square and does it look different, Wow

 

 

July 31st: The Kremlin, River Cruise and Underground.

After breakfast on the boat we head off to the Kremlin.
We get our new guide

So the learning starts, I thought it was just one main building inside the walls not knowing at one stage it was a whole city inside these walls

First stop once we in was the Armoury Museum where most of the treasures of ex Tsars are. Of note is the display of Faberge Eggs. Unfortunately no photos allowed.

The Grand Kremlin Palace

The Archangels Cathedral

The Tsar-Bell

Kremlin State Palace

From here a little cruise to see Moscow from the River.

 

Russia Academy of Science

Monument to Peter 1

We then venture down and see three of the train underground stations. The underground opened in 1935 and have become a major tourist attraction because of their elegance